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A BRIEF SKETCH 



OF 



THOMAS FULLER 



AND 



ONE LINE OF 



HIS DESCENDENTS 



WITH NOTES 



^ t A 



\ 



APPLETON, WIS. 

THE LAWRENCE PRESS 

1909 



^ 



ma 



<\ 



INTRODUCTORY. 

TN the compilation which follows, the prime object 

was to complete a single line of the succession 

from the beginning to the present, but as the work 

progressed a somewhat wider scope has been given 

to it. 

While the first and second generations are 
nearly full, later, the multiplication of families be- 
came so rapid and the descendants so numerous and 
so widely separated that it was found impracticable 
to follow them with any degree of accuracy, and only 
a few single lines of prominent personages are given 
in appended notes. 

It will be noted, however, that beginning with 
the sixth generation the record is complete. Close 
kinship has greatly facilitated this and rendered it 
comparatively an easy and a more satisfactory work. 

The meagerness and incompleteness of old 
records, as well as manv contradictory statements, 
all apparently well avouched, will be sufficient ex- 
planation for the many imperfections that may 
appear. 

It may not be improper to state that the task of 

PAGE 0.\E 



collecting these data falls to one who was born and 
reared within a few rods of the spot where the 
emigrant Thomas Fuller located in Salem, now 
Middleton, Essex County, Mass., and who thereby 
possesses some unusual facilities for verifying much 
connected herewith. 

The compiler takes this opportunity to express 
his appreciation of the value of aid freely given by 
many whose correspondence has been helpful, and 
especially by the late Mrs. M. J. Averill, of Middle- 
ton, in furnishing transcriptions and valuable data, 
without which this record would have been of far 

less value. 

J. F. FULLER. 



PAGE TWO 



ANCESTRY. 

TT is well established that those bearing the name 
of Fuller, so numerous and wide-spread over the 
United States and Canada have descended from 
eight ancestral heads, the dates of whose arrival in 
this country are as follows: 

Dr. Samuel and his brother Edward, of the Mayflower, came in 1()20. 

John, of Ipswich, Mass., and William, of Hampton, N. H., came of 1634. 

Thomas, of Dedhani, and John, of Newton, Mass ,carae in 1635. 

Robert, of Salem, and THOMAS, of Woburn and later of Middleton, 
Mass., came in 1638. 

Robert, of Dorchester, later of Dedham, Mass , came in 1640. 

Although positive evidence is wanting, it is very 
probable that in England these several heads had a 
common ancestry. This record attempts to deal 
only with the ancestor Thomas, of Woburn, later of 
Salem and Middleton. 

From records apparently authentic it appears 
that Thomas Fuller, the emigrant, came from the 
western part of England, probably Wales as some 
old accounts give it, in 1638, at the age of twenty, 
on a trip of observation, intending to return after a 
sojourn of a year, but changed his plans. He at- 
tributed this change of purpose to his conversion 

PAGE THRKK 



under the preaching of Rev. Thomas Shepard, of 
Cambridge, while others assign as a reason that he 
became attached to a maiden who refused to accom- 
pany him to England, and that he went alone, and 
having secured his patrimony from his father, who 
was a blacksmith, returned to this country, married 
and settled in that part of Cambridge now called 
Woburn and became prominent in local matters, 
serving often as a town officer. After the death of 
his wife, evidently seeking a broader field of oppor- 
tunity for his growing family, he obtained from 
Major General Dennison, of Boxford, some three 
hundred acres of land in the vicinity of Will's hill. 
As nearlv as we can ascertain he left Woburn 
about 1665 and settled on this land in that part of 
Salem which sixty-three years later w-as incorporated 
as the town of Middleton. His home was not far 
from the place where twenty-five years afterward, 
1690, the infamous ''Salem witchcraft" developed, 
and he located his dwelling, half a mile east of Will's 
hill on a stream then known as *Pierce'p Brook, 



•The overflow of Middleton Pond has filled this stream so as to fur- 
nish water for two mills, — one on street near town, and the other three 
quarters of a mile below, both backed by mill ponds for supplying 
water for power. The Danvers Water Company obtained the riKht to 
use water from the pond, and has so lowered it that this beautiful 
stream which for over Two hundred years has enriched this landscape, 
has entirely disappeared. 



FAGE FOl'K 



tributary to Ipswich river, and was the second 
white man in that vicinity. It appears, however, 
that in 1684, he once more became a citizen of 
Woburn, remaining about three years, when he 
again returned to Salem, now Middleton, and re- 
mained till the time of his death in 1698. 

Extracts from an old history throw some light on 
his first coming to Middleton. The historian says 
Major General Dennison of Boxford, sold in 1663 
to Thomas Fuller, of Woburn, land in Middleton. 
Two years later he took possession and occupied 
these lands. The historian further savs, the wealth 
of Thomas Fuller, and his enterprising spirit and 
sound judgment gave to his posterity good positions 
in society which have since been sustained wherever 
they have been scattered over the world. 

In England he evidently had a military prestige 
as shown in the family "Coat of Arms" (page ten) 
and his name appears on several records as "Lieut." 
Fuller. 

For a better understanding of the early daN's 
we herewith give dates of the legal establishment of 
the several townships referred to in the foregoing 
sketch. Except Woburn these are all in Essex 
County. 

VAGE FlYE 



Salem was incorporated in 1628. 



Ipswich '• 


i> 


'' 1634. 


Woburn " 


(( 


'' 1643. 


Boxford " 


(( 


" 1645. 


Topsfield '^ 


(k 


" 1650. 


Middleton'^ 


(; 


" 1728. 


Danvers " 


(( 


^' 1758. 



In a history of E^sex Country written seventy- 
five years ago, is found in that part relating to witch- 
craft references which serve to establish both his 
military reputation and his reputed religious habits. 
In this country he followed the vocation of black- 
smith, probably having learned the trade from his 
father, and although nearly two hundred and fifty 
years have passed since he ceased from his labors, 
cinders from his forge are still to be found where 
his shop then stood. 

The early records of Middleton show a lar^re num- 
ber of citizens by the name of Fuller, all of whom 
are clearly traceable to Thomas 1st. Very many of 
them held important places of trust and were al- 
ways found worthy of the honor given then). 

A manuscript from Rev. Daniel Fuller, of Glou- 
cester, Mass.. a great grandson of the Emigrant 
Thomas referring to him says, ''Many blessings have 

PAGE SIX 



followed his descendants, and no one of them so far 
as is known has been a pauper or beggar." 

We subjoin some verses left on record by the 
Emigrant Thomas which indicate the change which 
came upon him and induced him to make the 
Forest Home in New England his abiding-place. 
These verses were collected by the Rev. Daniel Ful- 
ler, from aged persons, and while they evidently 
are not of high poetical culture, show clearly a gen- 
uine, puritan stamina which brings to his descend- 
ants the best evidence of the feajless and noble 
spirit which possessed him and directed him through 
life. 

In tbirty-eiglit I set my foot 

On this New P^nglaud shore; 
My thoughts were then to stay one year, 

And here to stay no more. 

P>nt, by the preaching of God's word 

By famous ^^hepard he, 
In what a woful state I was, 

I then began to see. 

Christ cast his garments over me, 

And all my sins did cover; 
More precious to my soul was he 

Than dearest friend or lover. 

His pardoning mercy to my soul 

All thoughts did far surmount; 
The measure of his love to me 

Was quite beyond account. 

I'AGK SEVEN 



Ascended on hie liuly bill, 

I saw the city clear, 
And knew 'twas New Jerusalem, 

I was to it so near. 

I said my mountain does stand strong, 
And doubtless 'twill forever; 

But soon God turned liis face away. 
And joy from me did sever. 

Sometimes I am on mountains bigb, 

Sometimes in valleys low: 
Tbe state tbat man's in bere below, 

Does ofttimes ebb and flow. 

I beard the voice of God by man, 

Yet sorrows held me fast; 
But these my joys did far exceed, 

God beard my cry at last. 

Satan has fiung bis darts at me, 

And thought the day to win; 
Because he knew be had a friend, 

That always dwelt within. 
But surely God will save, my soul ! 

And, though you trouble have, 
My children dear, who fear the Lord, 

Your soul at death. He'll save. 

All tears shall then be wiped away. 
And joys beyond compare, 

Where Jesus is, and angels dwell 
With everv saint vou'll share 



PAGE EIGHT 








He bears* 

Argent, three bars gules, on a canton of the 
second a castle or. 

Crest, a dexter arm embowed, vested Argent. 
Cuffed Sable, holding in the hand proper a sword 
of the first hilt of pommel or. 

Argent — white. 

Gules — red. 

Or — gold. 

Sable — black. 

The Bar is one of the honorable Ordinaries 
representing a belt of honor given for eminent 
services. 

The Canton is a subordinate Ordinary repre- 
senting the banner given to Knights-Banneret. 



PAGE TEX 



NOTE — This "Coat of ArruB" has been long in use in 
the family, and Burke in his General Armory described 
the same as belonging to a Fuller family on the Isle of 
Wight. It appears also that other lines of Fullers in this 
country are using it, and perhaps rightfully; if so this 
serves to confirm the opinion that in England they had 
a common origin which had merited this military 
prestige. 



Marks and abbreviationsoccurring in the following pages 
indicate thus: 

Large capitals indicate the head of a generation. 
* refers to the bottom of the page. 
t to next previous generation, 
b. born; m. married; d. died. 



PAGE ELEVEN 



FIRST GENERATION. 

THOMAS FULLER was born probably in 
Wales, in April 1618, and died in Salem, Mass., in 
June 1698. 

He married first, June 13, 1643, Elizabeth Tidd, 
daughter, of John Tidd, of Woburn. 

He married second, August 25, 1684, Sarah 
Wyman, widow of Lieut. John Wyman,of Woburn. 
Her maiden name was Sarah Nutt. She died May 
24, 1688. 

He married third, *Hannah Wilson, of Woburn, 
whose maiden name was Hannah Pamer, and was 
the widow of one Wilson, who died Julv 1687. 

After the death of Thomas Fuller, she returned 
to Woburn to live with relatives. 



•Recently discovered records seem to indicate clearly that this 
record regarding the third marriage is in accord with the facts. No 
date of this marriage is given, nor of the death of this widow. 



PAGi: TinUTEEN 



SECOND GENERATION. 

Children of tThomas 1st, and Elizabeth Tidd, 
all born in Woburn: — 

THOMAS 2nd, b. April 30, 1644, m. first Ruth 
Richardson, daughter of Thomas and Mary Richard- 
son, of Woburn in 1669. and m. second, Martha 
Dur^v, Julv 19, 1699. He died in March, 1721. 

Elizabeth, b. Sept. 12, 1645, m. Joseph Dean. 
March, 1662. 

Ruth, b. May 17, 1648, rn. first, Wheeler, and 
second, Wilkins. 

Deborah, b. May 12, 1650. m. first, Isaac Rich- 
ardson, and second. Shaw. 

John, b. March 1, 1653, m. Rebecca Putnam, 
Feb. 2, 1672. 

Jacob, b. May 14, 1655. ni. Mary Bacon. June 
19, 1683, and d. 1731. 

Joseph, b. Aug. 8, 1658, d. young. 

Benjamin, b. April 15, 1660, m. Sarah Bacon, 
Dec. 15, 1685. 

Samuel, b. May 9, 1662. d. young. 

PAdB FOURTEEX 



THIRD GENERATION. 

Children of tThomas 2nd and Ruth Richardson: 

Thomas 3rd, b. Feb. 3, 1671, m. Elizabeth An- 
drews Mav 3, 1693. 

Jonathan, b. July 19, 1673, m. Susannah Trask 
Jan. 3, 1624. 

John, b. Dec. 22, 1676, m. Phoebe Synrionds 
Jan. 22, 1704. 

JOSEPH, b. Aug. 12, 1679, m. first, Rachel 
Buxton, Feb. 17, 1711, and second Susannah Dor- 
man, Nov. 3, 1713, who d. Oct. 6, 1765, aged 84. 
Joseph died March 27, 1748. 

William, b. Nov. 30, 1685, m. first Elizabeth 
Goodale, Oct. 16, 1714, and second, Deborah Hill 
June 15, 1741. 

Stephen, b. of second wife, Martha Durgy, Aug. 
10, 1700, and m. Hannah Moulton Jan. 1, 1723. 



tRuTH, second daughter of Thomas 1st, left one 
child by her first husband, Ruth Wheeler, and one 
bv her second husband which died in infancy. 



I'AGR FIFTEEN 



tDEBORAH. third daughter of Thomas 1st had 
ten children, Jonathan, Deborah, Joseph, Benjamin, 
Mercy, David, Phoebe, Mary, Elizabeth and Edward. 

tJoHN, second son, left one child, Bethia, of 
whom we have no trace. 

t Jacob, third son, had five children, Mary, Eliz- 
abeth, Edward, Sarah and Jacob. 

IBenjamin, fifth son, had six children, Samuel, 
Benjamin, Sarah, Ruth, Abigail and Hannah. 



PAGE SIXTEEN 



FOURTH GENERATION. 

IThomas 3rd was the father of seven c}iildren, 
as follows: John, who died young, Joseph, Timothy, 
Mary, Ruth, Betty and Lydia. 

tJoNATHAN had six children, Jonathan, jr., Sa- 
rah, Eunice, Susannah, Anna and Ruth. 

tJoHN had seven children, John, jr., Andrew, 
Ruth, David, Phoebe, Jerusha and Elizabeth. 

tJOSEPH had one son by his first wife, Joseph, 
b. Feb. 12, 1712, and there were five children by his 
second wife: Rachel, b. Aug. 1, 1714, Ruth, b. Mar. 
5, 1716, Amos, b. 1717, baptized Feb. 16, 1718, 
Thomas, b. 1720, baptized April 10, 1720, and 
EpHRAiM,b. Mar. 7, 1722, m. Mary Putnam, daughter 
of Ensign Ezra Putnam who died Oct. 22, 1747. 
Mary Putnam Fuller was born 1722 and died Dec. 
14, 1786. Ephraim died Feb. 20, 1792. 

tWiLLiAM had four children, William, jr., Na- 
than, Ruth and Jeremiah. 

tSxEPHEN's children were: Martha, b. Sept. 7, 
1734, Hannah, b. Oct. 10, 1735, m. Timothy Matthew, 
Mary, b. Mar. 9, 1727, Abigail, b. Sept. 6, 1728, m. 

I' A GH SKVEXTh'EX 



James Baldock, Stephen, jr,. b. Nov, 80, 1780, ni. 
Mary Abbott, Oct. 17, 1750. Thomas, b. June 30. 
1732, died in infancy, Aaron, b. June 26, 1734, m. 
Sarah Holt, Mar. 12, 1755, John, b. Mar. 13, 1789, 
no further account, Alice, b. Feb. 20, 1741, m. John 
Abbott, Nov. 4, 1762. 

tRuTH left a daughter, Ruth Wheeler, by first 
husband, who m. Foye, and one child by second 
husband which died in infancv. 

tDEBORAH's children by her first husband, 
Isaac Richardson, were David Richardson, who left 
three children: Solomon, Hannah and Bethia. The 
other children of Deborah b}^ both husbands were 
all married but we have no further account of them. 

"fJACOB left five children: 

Mary, m. a Whipple, who left three child- 
ren. James, Jacob and Mary. 

Elizabeth, m. a Fisk who left nine children, 
Sarah, Elizabeth, Lucy, Mercy, Jonatlian, Eben- 
ezer, Jacob, William and Mary. 

Edward, m. Quarles and left seven children, 
Josiah, Edward, ICphraim, Israel, Mary, Sarah 
and Benjamin. 

Sarah, m. Fisk and left eight children, Dan- 

PAGE EIGUTEES 



iel, Benjamin, Samuel, William. Josiah, Sarah, 
Martha and Hannah. 

Jacob, m. Abigail Holton and left ten chil- 
dren: Elisha, Ezra, Abigail, Elizabeth, Sarah, 
(Rev.) Timothy, pastor of church at Princeton, 
Mass., Mehitable, Holton, Jacob, jr., who died in 
1799, and David, who was a physician in Middle- 
ton, and died Nov. 6, 1821, aged 70. He married 
his niece Abigail, the daughter of his sister Eliz- 
abeth, and by her had a daughter named Abigail 
who married Richard Osborn of Salem. 

tBEN.TAMiN left six children as follows: 

Samuel, m. a Littlefield and left seven chil- 
dren, Samuel, jr., James, Benjamin. Mirian). Mary, 
Nabbv and Joshua. 

Benjamin, m. Mary Fuller, daughter of 
Thomas 3rd. They left eight children, Daniel^ 
Andrew, Sarah and Elijah all died young, Arche- 
laus, Daniel, who graduated at Harvard, 1764, and 
preached in Gloucester, Andrew, who graduated 
at Harvard in 1767, and Benjamin. jr. 

Sarah, m. a Felch and left two children, 
Deborah and Daniel. 

Ruth, m. a Smith. Their children were 

I'AGK SINE TEES 



James, Walter, Jonathan, Sarah, Ruth, Mary, 
Elizabeth, Amos, Benjamin and Abigail. 

Abigail m. a Hay ward of whom we have no 
further account. 

Hannah m. first a Swinerton by whom she 
had one child, Elizabeth, and m. second a Fowle, 
by whom she had two children, John and Eben- 
ezer. 



PAGE TWEXTY 




THE OLD MEETING HOUSE. 

A typical (3ld church building erected in 1726 
and taken down in 1846, was a plain edifice 40 feet 
square with 22 ft. posts, and no means for artificial 
heat. In the early days the town had entire control 
of the secular affairs of the church. The church 
proper, in its spiritual work was organized in 1729 
with over fifty members, of whom more than seven- 
teen per cent, bore the name of Fuller, all of whom 
were in the line from Thomas 1st. In this building 
our ancestors from the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth gen- 
erations worshipped. 



PA (iK T\Vh\\TY-0\h' 



FIFTH GENERATION. 

*tEPHRAIM FULLER and Mary Putnam's 
children were as follows: 

Nehemiah, b. Oct. 5, 1750, m. Ruth Bixbv who 
was born in 1754 and died July 15, 1783. 

Elizabeth, b. Aug. 7, 1752, no further record. 

Abijah, b. Sept. 22, 1754, d. June 6, 1817. 

SIMEON, b. Aug. 12, 1759, m., June 10, 1793, 
Rebecca Berry who was born in Middleton, Sept. 
16, 1769 and died Oct. 30, 1844. 



*Ephraim, as a civil officer dnring the Revolutionary war, rendered 
such services to his country as make his descendents eliKible to member- 
ship in the Society of the Sons and Daughters of the American Uevo- 
ution. {See Middleton Town Records.) 



PA a E T WES T Y- T WO 




THE OLD HOMESTEAD. 

The exact date of the erection of this hou?e is 
unknown, but as it was occupied by Ephraim (b. 
1722, d. 1792) and conjparing the style of architec- 
ture with other dwellings known to have been built 
prior to 1725 it is safe to presume it was built by 
Joseph (b. 1679. d. 1748) father of Ephraim, and 
ttiat his children as well as those of Ephraim, and 
Simeon, were ail born there, thus giving it a date 
not later than 1740, making it an interesting land- 
mark for all their posterity. 



PA GE T WES T Y- Til REE 



SIXTH GENERATION. 

tSLMP^ON FULLER and Rebecca Berry had 
five children as follows: 

*Dean, b. April 19, 179L m. Lydia Berry Dec. 
17, 1822. d. March 17, 1864. Lydia Berry, b. Sept. 
1, 1801, in Andover, and d. March 20, 1878. 

*Ephraim, b. Jan. 15, 1793, ni. Sally KiuibMll 
April 27 1820, and d. March 4. 186"). Sally Kim- 
ball, b. 1793 in Andover. and d. Nov. 7, 1866. 

Fanny, b. Oct. 22, 1784, m. Je^^e Flint June 6, 
1817, d. May 27, 1824. Jesse Flint, b. May 15. 1788 
and d. July 27, 1858. 

ABIJAH, b. Feb. 6. 1801, m. first Abiorail Fran- 
ces Weston Dec. 14. 1826. and ni. second Sarah 
Blake Oct. 8, 1850, d. July 13, 1878. **Abigail 
Frances Weston, b. Sept. 3. 1808, in Aniherst. N. H , 
and d. July 7, 1846. Sarah Blake b. Sept. 22. 1818, 
in Sandwich. N. H., and d. Oct. 22. 1880. 



•Tradition saye that Dean and Ephraim were called out in the war 
of 1812 on the Alarm List. 

**The records of Amherst, N. H., show that Samuel Wilkins, grand- 
father of Abigrail F. VVeston, as civil officer rendered such service to his 
country as make his descendents eligible to membership in the Society 
of Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution. 



PA G E T WE^' T Y-FOUR 



JESSE, b. Mardi 18, 1803, m. Elizabeth A. Bar- 
tine, July 14, 1835, and d. Aug. 18, 1872. Elizabeth 
A. Bartine, b. Nov. 24, 1816 and d. June 18, 1906. 




I'AGE TWENTY- FIVE 



SEVENTH GENERATION (a). 

tFANNY Fuller and Jesse Flint. Their chil- 
dren were: 

Rebecca Fuller, h Oct 2, 1818, m. \Vm. Web- 
ster, and died Dec. 29, 1847. 

Enoch Perley, b. Julv 20, 1820, d. Nov. 2G. 
1841. 

Fanny, b. March 2, 1824. died young. 



ABIJAH Fuller and Abigail F. Weston. Their 
children were all born in Middleton. 

Fanny Sophia, b. Oct. 20, 1827, d. Dec. 2, 1832. 

William Henry, b. June 23, 1829, d. Dec. 23, 
1832. 

Jesse Franklin, b. Mar. 4, 1832, m. first, Sarah 
Abigail McNeill. Nov. 27, 1860, who was b. June 
28, 1842, in Waukesha, Wis., and d. Jan. 22, 1876, 
and married, second, Sarah Stacey Learoyd, of Dan- 
vers, Sept. 4, 1878. She was born Jan. 21, 1841. 

William Henry, b. March 15, 1836, m. first 
Mary Elizabeth Brown Dec. 24, 1861. who was b. in 
Sandwich, N. H., and d. July 18, 1890, and married 

PAGE TWENTY-SIX 



second, Ellen Maria Stiles Oct. 28, 1897, who was b. 
in MiddletonOct. 11,1853, and d. Dec. 25, 1903. 

*Ephraim. b. June 28, 1838, m. Annie Eliza 
Chipman, Oct. 2. 1876, who was b. in Laurel, Ind., 
Aug. 12, 1850. He d. Dec. 29, 1904. 

John Hubbard, b. Sept. 9, 1840, d. July 28, 
1842. 

Rebecca Berry, b. July 3, 1843, m. Lyman 
Darling, Sept. 12, 1856. He was b. in Baldwin, Me. 

\ Mary Ward, b. Nov. 21, 1845, d. Sept. 19, 1846. 
) Martha Wilkins, b. Nov. 21, 1845, m. Oilman 

A. Kimball Mar. 8, 1883, d. Oct. 8, 1890. He was 
born in Georgia, Vt., and d. Aug. 19, 1889. 



Abijah Fuller and Sarah Blake left two chil- 
dren: 

Mary Ellen, b. May 4, 1853, m. Frank Luther 
Wilkins of Middleton, Dec. 24. 1874. 

Sarah Abby, b. Sept. 12, 1854, m. Nov. 24, 
1881, Charles Oliver Frost, b. in Sutton, Vt.. 



*Served in the War of the Rebellion as a member of the 6th ReKimeut 
of Wisconsin Volunteers. 



I'A GI<: T WEN T Y-SE VEN 



SEVENTH GENERATION (6). 

JESSE FULLER and Elizabeth A. Bartine. 
Their children were all born in New York City. 

Thomas Simeon, b. April 14, 1836. m. Effie 
Birdsall, of New York City, Sept. 15, 1855. d. June 
1. 1903. 

Jesse, Aug. 22 1838. d. Oct. 27. 1839. 

Rebecca Elizabeth, b. Sept. 3U, 1840. ni. \Vn). 
B. Putney Aug. 22, 1883. \Vm. B. Putney was b. 
in Ashfield, Mass. and d. Sept. 10, 1904. 

*Charles Wesley (Colonel), b. July 2, 1843, 
m. Matilda B. Williams, of New York City. May 29, 
1867. 

Henry Dean, b. Jan. 6, 1846. 

Sarah, b. Apr. 20, 1848, in. Joseph Newhall 

Smith, of Lynn, Mass., Dec. 17, 1879. J. N. Smith 

was b. in Dan vers, Mass. 

Jesse, b. April 2, 1851, m. Ida A. Goldev, of 
New York city, Dec. 2, 1873. 



*Served in war of the Rebellion as member of 7th Reg. \. Y. Vols. 
Later, was Major and Colonel, 55lh Reg. N. G. N. Y. 
Member of General Assembly, New Jersey, 1888, 
State Superintendent of Education. New Jersey, 1889. 



PAGE TWENTY-EIGHT 



Lydia Emily, b. June 20, 1853, m. Sydney 
Fisher, of New York City, Oct. 9, 1889. 

George Albert, b. June 1, 1857, m. Fannie 
Searles, of New York City, June 7, 1882. 




PAGE TWENTY-NINE 



EIGHTH GENERATION (a). 

Grandchildren of Abijah Fuller, (Sixth Gener- 
ation). 

Henrietta Learoyd, daughter of Jesse F. and 
and Sarah S. Fuller, b. Jan. 17. 1880, in Atlanta, 
Ga. 



Arthur Benson, son of VVm. Henry and Marv 
E. Fuller, b. Jan. 19, 1868, m. Mary Amelia Clute, 
April 9, 1897. 



The children from Ephraim and Annie E. Fuller 
all born in Indianapolis were: 

Revie Louise, b. July 3, 1877, d. Nov. 13, 1889. 

Bertram Learoyd, b. Jan. 23, 1879, d. July 7, 
1879. 

Harry Leander, b. March 6, 1880. 

Mary Frances, b. January 26, 1883. 

Nellie Marie, b. April 5, 1884. d. Feb. 28, 1891. 

Charles Chipman, b. Oct. 13, 1886, d. Oct. 28, 
1886. 

Annie Chipman. b. March 24, 1888, d. Feb. 27, 
1891. 

Arthur Benson, b. May 17, 1890. 

PAGE THIRTY 



Dean Weston, b. Jan. 25, 1895. 



The children from Rebecca B. and Lyman 
Darling were: 

Lyman Abijah, b. in Middleton, Dec. 21, 1856, 

m. Phoebe Ann Kimball, of Dan vers, Mass., April 26, 

1883. 

Charles Weston, b. in Island Falls, Me. April 
18, 1858, drowned May 11, 1905. 

Will Vivian, b. Aug. 28, 1861,in Island Falls, 
Me., m. Mary Elizabeth Record. Aug. 21, 1879. 

Martha Annis, b. in Middleton, June 14, L865, 

d. March 13, 1897. 

Frances Fuller, b. in Middleton, Sept. 23, 1871. 



Three children from Mary Ellen and Frank L. 
Wilkins: 

Mabelle Stevens, b. in Middleton Sept. 17, 
1875, m. Georgti Forest Eaton, of Beverly, Aug. 7, 
1877. 

Norman Fuller, b. in Middleton, March 9' 
1878, m. Laura Mabel Moore, of Beverly, Mass. Oct. 
18, 1906. 

Francis Blake, b. in Middleton. July 14, 1894. 



PA G E THIIi T Y- ONE 



EIGHTH GENERATION (6) 

Grandchildren of Jesse Fuller (Sixth Gener- 
ation. 

Daughter of Thomas Simeon and Effie (Bird- 
sail) Fuller. 

Caroline Elizabeth, b. Dec. 26, 1857, m. 
Henri Lucien Clair Gargan, who was b. in Lyons 
France. Oct. 8, 1878. 



Two children from Charles Wesley and Ma- 
tilda B. (Williams) Fuller: 

Harry Williams, b. June 14, 1868, m Mira 
Belle SHEPARD,of New York City, October 16, 1901. 

Fannie Searles, b. June 2, 1871, m. Major Lee 
ToADViNE, of Saulsbnry, Md., June 15, 1898. 



Two sons to Sarah (Fuller) and Joseph N. 
Smith, born in Lynn: 

Mortimer Fuller, b. Nov. 19, 1881, m. Marion 
Haines, of Lynn, Dec. 3, 1902. 

Joseph Newton, b. March 9, 1887. 

PAGE THIRTY-TWO 



Tlie children to Jesse and Ida A. (Golciey) Ful- 
ler, b. in Brooklyn, N. Y., were: 

Maud, b. Oct. 21, 1874, m. Walter Moore Dear, 
of Jersey City, N. J. Oct. 20, 1903. 

Jesse, b. Aug. 10, 1876. 

Albert Goldey, b. June 14, 1895. 



Daughter to Lydia Emily (Fuller) and Sydney 
Fisher: 

Harriet Bartine, b. in Brooklyn, April 11, 
1891. 



I'AaiJ THlRTY-THIiEJJ 



NINTH GENERATION (a). 

Great grandchildren of Abijah Fuller, (Sixth 
Generation). 

The children to Lyman A. and Phoebe A. (Kim- 
ball) Darling: 

Edith Kimball, b. Aug. 16. 1884. 

Chester Fuller, b. March 14, 1886. 

Harold Preston, b. March 29. 1891. 



The children to WillV. and Mary E. (Record) 
Darling: 

Charles Greenleaf. b. Aug. 21, 1880, m. Mary 
Lovira Foster, of Imperial. Cal., Sept. 24, 1905. who 
was born in Illinois. 

Carroll Lyman, b. July 2, 1882. 

William Vivian, Jr., b. Sept. 20, 1899. 



Children, born in Beverly, Mass., to George 
Forest Eaton and Mabelle Stevens (Wilkins): 
Dorothy Emerson, b. Feb. 15, 1898. 
Natalie Wilkins, b. Sept. 18, 1899. 



PAGE THIRTY-FOUR 



NINTH GENERATION (6) 

Great Grandchildren of Jesse Fuller (Sixth 
Generation. 

Raymond Edouard Henri, b. in Lyons, France, 
July 11, 1880. Son of Caroline E. (Fuller) and 
Henri Lucian Clair Gargan. 



Three daughters to Fannie Searles (Fuller) and 
Major Lee Toadvine. 

Matilda Fuller, b. in Saulsbury, Md., May 9, 
1899. 

Elizabeth Wesley, b. in Saulsbury, Md. July 
2, 1900. 

Martha Lee, b. in Bayonne, N. J. 



A daughter to Maud (Fuller) and Walter M. 
Dear: 

Eleanore, b in Jersey City, N. J., Aug. 9, 1908. 



PAGE THIRTY-FIVE 



NOTES. 
I. 

npHIS compilation, in one line embraces nine 
generations, covering over two hundred and 
eighty years. The regular male heads of this line 
are as follows: 

f Elizabeth Tidd. June 13, 1(5431 

1. Thomas b. April, 1618. ui.^ Sarah W.viiian, Aufj- L'5. lG84j^d. June, 1698 

[Hannah Wilson, 1697 J 

.1 mu oi I » oa 1*11 ( Ruth Richardson, 1669 \^ i_.„ 

2. Thomas 2d, b. Apr. 30, 1644, ni. ( j^^^^^j^^ ^^^^^.^^^ j^,^ j,,^ ^„gj,Jd. 1721 

„ T u V . 10 -I,-,, ( Rachel Buxton, Feb. 17, 1711 Id. Mar. 27 

3. Joseph, b. Aug. 12, lbi9, •»• {gusanna Dorman, Nov. 3, 1713/ 174S 

4. Ephraim, b. March 7, 1722, m. Mary Putnam, Oct. 17. 1749, d. Feb. 20, 

1792. 

5. Simeon, b. June 10, 1759, m. Rebecca Berry, June 10, 1790, d. March 10, 

1806. 

*v.- u V. T7 K c ion, /Abigail F. Weston, Dec. 14, 1S26\ d. Julv 13 
ha Abijah,b.Feb.6.]801.m.(y^^-jjj5j^j.^^^,^^ g j^gy J ^,-^- 

6 b Jesse, b. March 1S03, m. Elizabeth A. Bartine Jnly 14, 1835, d. Auft-. IS 

1872. 

7 a Children of Abijah. 

7 b Children of Jesse. 

8 H Grandchildren of Abijah. 

8 b Grandchildren of Jesse. 

9 a Great grandchildren of Abijah. 
9 b Great grandchildren of Jesse. 

A study of the longevity of our ancestors re- 
veals something of interest to members of the pres- 
ent generation. 

Elizabeth Bartine Fuller, widow of Jesse of the 



PA UK THIR rV-NLXE 



sixth generation, attained the great age of nearly 
four score and ten years, h^usanna Dornian Fuller, 
widow of Joseph of the third generation, attained 
four score and four years. Thomas, the emigrant, 
reached eighty years. Abijah of the sixth genera- 
ation, lived seventy-seven years and five months. 
Thomas, of the second generation reached the age 
of seventy-six years and eleven months. Rebecca 
Berry Fuller, widow of Simeon of the fifth gener- 
ation was seventv-five vears old at her death. 



It may be of interest to posterity in this line to, 
know that while Thomas, the emigrant, married in 
Woburn, and that all his children were born there, 
and that Thomas 2nd also married from Woburn, 
it is very probable that all the others of the Second, 
the Third, the Fourth, the Fifth and the Sixth gen- 
erations, except the last two in the Sixth, married 
from Essex county in Massachusetts. Beginning 
with the last two of the Sixth generation, and con- 
tinuing down to the present, matrimonial alliances 
were consummated, a few from Essex countv and 
more, from widely divergent places, including Maine, 
New Hampshire, Vermont, New Jersey, Maryland, 
New York, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin, while 
one was from France. 



PAGE FORTY 



II 

A line which developed remarkable intellectual 
strength runs as follows: 1, Thomas 1st; 2, Jacob; 
3, Jacob 2d; 4, Timothy; 5, Timothy 2d; 6, Arthur 
Buckminster, and Sarah Margaret. Timothy (4) 
who m. Sarah Williams, was a clergyman, a gradu- 
ate of Harvard University, and pastor of a church 
in Princeton. His son. Timothy (5), m. Margaret 
Crane, was an advocate, and became Hon. Of his 
children, Arthur B., who also graduated at Harvard 
University and at Cambridge Divinity school, was a 
clergyman and preacher of marked ability in Bos- 
ton and in Watertown. As a volunteer in the 
Union Armv in the war of the Rebellion, he was 
made chaplain, and was also distinguished as a 
newspaper correspondent. He was killed at Fred- 
ericksburg by a sharpshooter. 

Sarah Margaret, Marchioness, D'Ossoli, was one of 
the most remarkable women of the time. At the 
age of eight years she wrote Latin verse, while her 
favorite studies were Philosophy, History and ^Es- 
thetics. At ten years she read Tasso and Ariosto in 
the original, and a little later made herself familiar 

PAGE Fonrr-ONE 



with German writerfe. At the invitation of Horace 
Greeley, she contributed to the 'Tribune" a series of 
articles on Literature and Art wliich were afterward 
collected and published in London, Eng. 

In Rome she met Marquis D'Ossoli to whom 
she was married in 1847. In 1850, on her way 
home, when in sight of New York, a hurricane 
struck the ship, and with her husband and new- 
born infant, she perished in the waves. 



PAGK FORTY-TWO 



III. 

From anotlier branch came Col. Charles A. 
Fuller, who was born in Boston in 1814, and died 
at Appleton, Wis., Dec. 16th, 1890. He graduated 
at West Point U. S. Military Academy, and entered 
the United States Engineering department in 1837, 
and remained in that line of work for the most part 
till his death. He affiliated with the south in the 
war of the Rebellion, and when the "cause was lost," 
again entered the U. S. Engineering department. 
His work extended from the Great Lakes to the 
Gulf of Mexico. He performed important work at 
New Orleans and was complimented by the govern- 
ment for his efficiency. His last work was in con- 
nection with the United States Fox River Improve- 
ment. 

This line was 1, Thomas; 2, Benjamin; 3, Ben- 
jamin 2nd; 4, Daniel (Rev.) who m. Hannah Bowers; 
5, Benjamin 3d, who m. Mary Beal; 6, Charles A. 
(Colonel.) 



PAGE FORTY-THREE 



IV 

Tradition furnishes many interesting anecdotes 
of one Timothy Fuller, who lived in Middleton and 
was commonly called "Old Tim." It is related that 
at a time when at work, becoming thirsty, he called 
at a house for a drink; the woman being alone said 
'•you rock the cradle while I draw the cider." Upon 
her return with the cider he asked her to give him 
the child in the cradle. She promised to do so on 
condition that he would wait till she was eighteen 
years old. He promised to do so, and at that time 
came and took her as his wife, making her the mis- 
tress of his forty negroes. At this writing (1909) 
the old "gambrel roofed" house where these slaves 
were domiciled is still standing, though damaged a 
few years ago bv fire. It was built in 1710. 

The killing of volunteer farmers on the histor- 
ical 19th of April, 1775, by order of the British 
Commander, stirred the blood of all in this region, 
and with characteristic energy "Old Tim," now 73 
years old, with his white mare and shotgun started 
for the scene of action. He was also in the fight at 
Bunker's Hill. His lineage was: 1, Thomas; 2, 

PAGE FORTY-FOUR 



Thomas 2d; 3, Thomas 3d; 4, Timothy, b. 1702, m, 
Sarah Smith, July 1749. His widow died in 1824. 




PAGE FORTY-FIVE 



V 

Capt., afterward Colonel, Archelaus Fuller, m. 
Mrs. Betty (Dale) Putnam. His home was in Mid- 
dleton. He was chosen representative to the Pro- 
vincial Congress held at Cambridge, Mass., "Feb. ye 
first day, 1775." He was acting 2nd major April 
19th. 1775, was made major of the 8th Essex county 
regulars the 8th of February, 1776, and was afterward 
made Lieut. Col. June 26th, 1776. He died at 
Charlestown, New Hampshire, August 25th, 1776. 

Daniel, son of Archelaus, also was a man of note. 
He lived from 1771 to 1855. and held every office of 
importance, in the gift of the town. He was also 
Justice of the Peace for the county continuously for 
thirty-five years having been repeatedly re-commis- 
sioned. He was a farmer, a man of superior abili- 
ties, honest, upright, and conscientious in all his 
dealings. This line was 1, Thomas; 2, Benjamin- 
8, Benjamin 2d; 4, Archelaus, m. Mrs. Betty Put- 
nam, 1770; 5, Daniel, m. Sally Estey, Nov. 19th, 
1798. Daniel left four sons and two daughters: 
George, Jeremiah, Samuel, Elbridge, Sophroniaand 
Caroline. 

PAGE FORTY-SIX 



VI 

While very few of the old landmarks remain to 
attest the privations of our early ancestors, much 
satisfaction is given in examining even the records 
of them, and among these there are perhaps but 
very few that open before us more clearly the man- 
ner of expression, the incidental dealing, and the 
ordinary methods of transacting business, of mak- 
ing payments, etc., than some original papers and 
records which are still in existence. Several of these 
papers are in the possession of members of the sev- 
enth generation, and are carefully preserved as val- 
uable mementoes of the early days. Existing papers 
extending from 1700 to 1800 show marked evidence 
of the painstaking of their authors. Many oddities 
appear in these times, in reading of the government 
as provincial and vested in Great Britain, in sup- 
porting the church and its affairs by local govern- 
ment, made imperative on the citizens. 



Below we give a transcript of an old tax receipt 
recently found showing the connection between the 
church and the local government. 



I' AGE FORrV-SEVEN 





— TAX 


FOR — 






Town 


Pole 


- 


$1.70 




and 


Real 


- 


6.90 




County , 


) Per. 


- 


49 






Pole 


- 


.92 




Minister 


-Real 


- 


4.57 




- 


\ Per. 




0.31 




Total 


$14.89 












..Collector. 













Below is a transcript of an old deed which 
serves to exemplify a number of such papers still 
held as valuable souvenirs. This particular deed 
is dated October 30, 1722, for the transfer of land in 
Middleton, given by William Blunt, yeoman, of An- 
dover, Essex Co., "Province of Massachusetts Bay, to 
Joseph Fuller, husbandman, in consideration of 
seven pounds. It was witnessed by Ephraim Fuller 
and Susanna Stevens, and was executed before Ben- 
jamin Stevens, Justice of the Peace. It is written 
on parchment, and the writing is as legible, and 
the ink as bright as when first written. 

The description of this land is quite elaborate 
but it would puzzle the best surveyor in Massachu- 
setts to locate the land today from the description 
given in the deed, which is as follows: 

Beginning with a white oake tree marked at north- 
east corner bound of Abraham Goodal'e wood lot, thence 

PAGE FORTY-EIGHT 



southwesteardly to a white oake tree markt, so on the 
same coars to a black oake tree marked, bv tlie swamp 
so on to a white oake tree marked, bv Ebenezer Sticlses 
meadow from thence uorthwesteardly ase the wall now 
Htatids till It coms to the eaud of said wall, from thence 
tbe same coars to a lieap of stons in a rocke mitter then 
westeardly to a small white oake tree marked with stons 
about It then north westeardly to the eand of another 
ston wall, then bounded asthe wallnow stands to a white 
oake tree with bars let into it, from thence uorthwest- 
eardly as the wall now stands till it coms to Samuel Pea- 
bodv s swamp, tiien bounded on the swamp till it coms 
to a black oake tree marked, a former bounds betwixt 

AmosandLphraim Fuller's, thence boundingonEphraim 
Fuller s other land till it coms to a vallow oake tree 
marked standing on a hill a few rods north from the bars 
that lets into said Ephraim's pastor, then easteardlv and 
southeasteardly and easteardly asthe wallnow stands 
toa stake and stons by another ston wall, from thence 

south westeardly ase the M-all now stands to the first bound 
mentioned a driftway excepted for people to go to their 
meadows for hav. ^ i- t^ ^ ^lich 



A notable feature which one sees to-day in the 
older New P]ngland towns, is the location of dwell- 
ings built from one hundred and fifty to two hun- 
dred years ago. They were placed evidently with- 
out reference to the direction of the street, and 
frequently stand cornerwise, or back to it. This is 
explained by the fact that in early days, timepieces 
were scarce and expensive, and one, building his 
house, was careful to locate it on the meridian, front- 
ing south. These buildings had two stories in front 



PA GK FOR TY-NINE 



with windows in both stories. On sun-lit days each 
window could be made to indicate the meridian, or 
noon hour, in every room in front. Experience soon 
enabled the occupants to determine the time pretty 
accurately, for some hours both before and after the 
noon hour. This was supplemented by the hour 
glass. The old "Almanack" told the times for the 
rising and setting sun, and of the new moon. These 
means greatly facilitated the determining of the time 
of day. 

The Old Meeting House and the Old Homestead 
are conspicuous examples of this phase of the old 
conditions. 



WILL OF THOMAS FULLER, THE EMIGRANT. 

Copied from Records at Salem Court House, and 
probated July 4, 1698, by John Higginson, register. 
Witnessed by three persons, Nathan Putnam, Han- 
nah Wilkins and Israel Porter. Hannah Wilkins 
being unable to write, made her mark: 

"In the name of God amen. I Thomas Fuller Sen. 
In ve C(juntv of Essex in New Entrjand ve ninth dav of 
June. One thousand six hundred ninety and eight, be- 
ing Sick & weak in body. But of sound mind and mem- 
ory, thanks be to God for ye same doe make and ordain 
this ray last Will and Testament; in manner and form 
following: that is to say, Principally and First of all, I 

PAGE FIFTY 



give & Recomend my Iininortjill 8oul into ye hands of 
my Merciful God. Father. ISou <k Holy Ghost, who gave 
It and only througli ye merritt of Jesus Clirist njy Ke- 
deemer. & my body J comitt to ye Earth to be buried in 
a Christian like and Decent Manner at ye Direction of my 
Executor and ('hristian Friends, and touching my 
worldly Estate whicli yet Remains in my hands 1 dispose 
of as foUoweth. 

Item — I give and bequeath to my daughter Dean, a 
fether Bed and that which now belongs to itt. a great 
kettle and a Pewter Platter and a Draught Chain and 
eight pounds to be paid by my P^xecutor in money or as 
money within two or three years after my Decease and 
also I give to my daughter Ruth Wilkins, ten pounds 
out of my estate, to be paid in or as money within three 
or four years after my Decease, and a Pewter Platter to 
be given to her Daughter when she hath done with it. 
Item — I give unto my Daughter Deborah Shaw, her five 
children, three Daughters and two Sons, fourty shillings 
a peice to be paid within five years after my Decease as 
money or land in Lieu of it and also I give unto my 
Grandson David Richardson Ten pounds of money or 
land in Lieu of it. Item — I give unto my Grandaughter 
Ruth Wheeler five pounds in or as money to be paid 
within five years after my Decease, a Pillion and a 
Smothering Iron and linen Spinning Wheel, to be part 
of ye five pounds. Item. I give to my Grandaughter 
Hethia Fuller fifety shillings to be paid in or as in money 
to be paid within two or three years after my Decease. 

Item — I give unto my son Thomas Fuller five shill- 
ings. Item — I give to my son Benj. Fuller a flock bed 
and a flock bolster and a fether Pillow and Two Blank- 
ets. Item — I give to my son Jacol) Fuller fourscore acres 
of Upland & Meadow be it more or less lying at little 
Beach Meadow & also my home field containing about 
three score acres be it more or less, and also about one 
hundred & fifty acres lying in Reding bounds of Lapland 
& Swamp be it more or less and also my Rights in ye Saw 
Mill Irons and all mv tools together with all my house- 
hold Goods whatsoever and all mv Debts and Dews what- 



I'AGE FIFTY-ONE 



Boever aud I appoint & Ordain my son Jacob Fuller Sole 
Executor of this my last will and Testament." 

* On page four it is noted that Thomas 1st 
came into possession of three hundred acres, giving 
the impression that this was the extent of his land 
estate, but as nearly that amount was given away 
by his will, it is evident he acquired other land as 
he had before making his will given much to other 
members of his family not mentioned in the Will. 
It is well known that he had extensive tracts of land 
in the townships of Reading and Andover as well as 
other land bordering on the latter near the An- 
dover line. 



*A readin": of this Will seems to indicate that the eldest son, Thom- 
as, did not receive his just portion, but it is a matter of record that at 
the time the Will was made, he was over fifty years age, married, and 
had received his part of the inheritance in laud. From other sources it 
appears also that others had received lands from the father. Thomas, 
prior to the making' of his Will, which in some measure accounts for ap- 
parent discriminations in that document. 



PAGE FIFTY-TWO 



VII 

All the descendants from and after the sixth 
generation, Simeon Fuller who married Rebecca 
Berry June 10th, 1790, can have nothing short of a 
deep interest in the lineage that runs back on 
Rebecca Berry's side. In St. Nicholas church, in 
Yarmouth, Eng., one of the finest buildings in that 
city, founded in 1101, William Towne and Johanna 
Blessing were married March 25, 1620, and their 
marriage is there recorded. They came to Salem in 
1632, and moved to Topsfield in 1652. Of their 
eight children, the eldest, Rebecca, b. in 1621, m. 
Francis Nourse, and was executed for alleged witch- 
craft. The sixth child, Mary, was born in 1634, 
and m. Isaac Estey. She also was executed for 
alleged witchcraft. Still another, Sarah, the 
seventh child, was also apprehended for the same 
alleged crime, but was afterward released. 

The third child of Isaac and Mary (Towne) 
Estey, John, b. Jan. 2, 1662, m. Mary Dorman. Of 
the children of John and Mary (Dorman) Estey, the 
seventh, Jonathan, b. May 4, 1707, m. Susanna 
Monroe of Lexington, Mass. Of their seven chil- 

PAGE FIFTY-THREE 



(Iren, the fourth, Susanna, b. Jan. 26, 1741, naarried 
Nathaniel Berry. Nathaniel and Susanna (Estey) 
Berry left nine children, of whom the fifth, Rebecca, 
b. Sept. 16, 1769, m. Simeon Fuller June 10, 1790, 
and lived in Middleton. Hence it appears that all 
the descendants of Simeon and Rebecca (Berry) 
Fuller of the sixth generation of the foregoinf]^ gen- 
ealogy, can trace their lineage directly back to 
Mary (Towne) Estey, who, with her sister, Rebecca 
(Towne) Nourse, became victims of the witchcraft 

delusion. 

The records of the town of Topsfield, Mass., give 
this lineage in full, as well as the eloquent and piti- 
ful pleadings of these women doomed to their cruel 
fate, the originals of which are still in existence. 

FROM THE HISTORY OF TOPFIELD, MASS. 

The clear good sense, the sweet spirit, the sub- 
lime piety, and the cruel fate of Mary Estey have 
long commanded, and must ever command the ad- 
miration and the pity of all who learn her story. 
Her simple eloquence, and the anguish that must 
have wrung many Topfield families, and the terror 
that reigned in that region during the dreadful 
summer and autumn of 1692, can be conceived of 
only as to remind us and help us to appreciate our 

PAGE FIFTY-FOrii 



lot in an age of clearer light, of better temper, and 
of milder laws. 

After her condemnation Mary Eptey sent a 
petition to the court, which exhibits the noblest 
fortitude, sweetness of temper, dignity, and resig- 
nation as well as calmness toward her accusers, and 
will be read with unqualified admiration, especially 
when it is remembered that "confession" was the 
sure means of obtaining the favor of the court. 

"The petition of Mary Estey unto his Excel- 
lency, Sir William Phip})s. and to the honorable 
Judge and bench sitting in judicature in Salem hum- 
bly showeth: 

That whereas your poor and humble petitioner 
being condemned to die, doth humbly beg of you to 
take it into your judicious and pious consideration 
that your poor and humble petitioner, knowing my 
own innocency (blessed be the Lord for it) and see- 
ing plainly the wiles and subtlety of my accusers, 
by myself cannot but judge charitably of others 
that are going the same way as myself, if the Lord 
step not mightily in. I was confined a whole month 
on the same account that I am now condemned for, 
and cleared by the afflicted persons as some of your 
honors know; and in two day's time I was cried 

PAGE FIFTY-FIVE 



out upon \)y them, and have been confined and am 
now condemned to die. The Lord above knows njy 
innocency then, and lil^ewise doth now, as at the 
great day will be known to men and angels. I peti- 
tion to your honors, not for my own life, for I know 
I must die, and my appointed time is set; but the 
Lord he knows it is — if it be possible — that no more 
innocent blood may be shed; which undoubtedly 
cannot be avoided in the way and course you go on. 
I question not but your honors do, to the utmost of 
your powers, in tlie discovery and detecting of witch- 
craft and witches, and would not be guilty of inno- 
cent blood, for the world; but by my own innocency 
I know you are in the wrong way. The Lord in his 
infinite mercy direct you in this great work, if it be 
his blessed will that no more innocent blood be shed. 
I would humbly beg of you that your honors would 
be pleased to examine these afflicted persons strictly, 
and keep them apart some time, and likewise try 
some of these confessing witches, I being confident 
there are several of them who have belied them- 
selves and others as will appear, if not in this world 
I am sure in the world to come, whither I am going; 
and I question not but yourselves will see an alter- 
ation in these things. They say myself and others 

PAGT FIFTY-SIX ^ ( 

RD-94 



have made a league with the devil: we cannot con- 
fess. I know, and the Lord knows, as will shortly 
appear, they believe me, and so I question not, but 
they do others; the Lord alone, who is the Searcher of 
all hearts, knows as I shall answer it at the tribunal 
seat, that I know not the least thing about witch- 
craft; therefore, I cannot, durst not, belie my own 
soul. I beg your honors not to deny this my hum- 
ble petition, from a poor innocent person; and I 
question not, the Lord will give a blessing to your 
endeavor." 

The original of the above petition is still in ex- 
istence; and varied circumstantial evidence make 
it highly probable that it was was written by the 
petitioner herself. 



PAGE FIFTY-SEVEN 






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